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Pettitte channels past playoff greatness

Pettitte channels past playoff greatness

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By Anthony DiComo
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MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Girardi was there in 1996 when Andy Pettitte came of age on a national stage, outdueling John Smoltz in a classic World Series Game 5. He was there for much of that decade, growing up with Pettitte and catching more of his games than anyone other than Jorge Posada. And now, he is here again, sitting in the dugout, managing his pitcher and friend.

So when Girardi saw Pettitte climb onto the mound for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Sunday, he knew immediately what the left-hander was planning to do.

"You know when he has that stare," Girardi said. "He's able to pitch in big games and nothing is going to faze him -- not the surroundings, not the 55,000 fans here, not the noise. He's been through it so many times, and he knows how to bounce back. He's just a clutch performer."

In one of his sharpest outings since he returned to the Yankees in 2007, Pettitte struck out seven Twins over 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball, vaulting his team to the AL Championship Series against the Angels and etching his own name deeper into the postseason record books.

"You have to have great pitching," Pettitte said. "You see when you get to the postseason, it's just hard to score. It really is. You think you might be able to have a pitcher where it might be easier to get some runs off of, but guys turn it up. The focus goes up. It just seems like every run is precious in the postseason."

Too humble of course to harp on his own performance, Pettitte instead let his numbers speak for him amidst the champagne celebration.

With the victory, the 15th of his postseason career, Pettitte, 37, tied Smoltz for the most in Major League history. He broke a tie with Tom Glavine for the most playoff games and innings in history and moved into third place in strikeouts, now trailing just Smoltz and Roger Clemens.

Dandy Andy

Andy Pettitte's postseason ranks after earning the win in Game 3 of the ALDS

Category

Total

Rank

Wins

15

1st (tie)

Starts

36

1st

Innings

224 2/3

1st

Strikeouts

146

3rd

"The way Andy pitched tonight -- he's been in these situations before," said fellow left-hander CC Sabathia, who considers Pettitte a mentor. "You just knew he was going to go out and have a great game."

Perhaps it was strange, then, that Girardi yanked a clearly focused Pettitte with one out in the seventh, after he had thrown merely 81 pitches. Rather than have Pettitte face Delmon Young -- a strong hitter against left-handed pitching, but 0-for-2 with two popups in the game -- one more time, Girardi called on right-hander Joba Chamberlain, who promptly served up a double to Young.

Pettitte, so sharp for the Yankees all evening, was left to sit in the clubhouse and hope that his bullpen could hold what was then a one-run lead -- a mission it ultimately accomplished. Had Pettitte remained in the game, he may have been able to throw the sort of October gem that fans remember for a lifetime. How might 1996 have turned out, for example, if Pettitte had left after 6 1/3?

Amazing Andy

Pettitte's career stats in ALDS action

Year

Opp.

W

L

IP

H

R

BB

K

1995

SEA

0

0

7

9

4

3

0

1996

TEX

0

0

6 1/3

4

4

6

3

1997

CLE

0

2

11 2/3

15

11

1

5

1998

TEX

1

0

7

3

1

0

8

1999

TEX

1

0

7 1/3

7

1

0

5

2000

OAK

1

0

11 1/3

15

5

3

7

2001

OAK

0

1

6 1/3

7

1

2

4

2002

ANA

0

0

3

8

4

0

1

2003

MIN

1

0

7

4

1

3

10

2007

CLE

0

0

6 1/3

7

0

2

5

2009

MIN

1

0

6 1/3

3

1

1

7

Total

5

3

79 2/3

82

33

21

55

It is difficult to second-guess decisions, however, when the ultimate outcome involves champagne and an early flight home.

"Andy is used to pitching in these situations, and he was great -- he was as good as we have seen him all year long tonight," Girardi said. "Delmon Young has been someone who has had some success off Andy, and I know Andy had handled him to this point, but my gut told me to go to Joba in that situation."

And then to Phil Hughes, and then Mariano Rivera, who promptly sealed off the win. It was a game in which not just Pettitte, but the entire so-called Old Guard -- Pettitte, Rivera, Derek Jeter and Posada -- shined. Aside from Pettitte's efforts and Rivera's four-out save, there was Posada's go-ahead home run in the seventh and Jeter's heads-up play to kill a Twins rally in the eighth.

"There is no doubt it makes it special -- it makes it a little sweeter," Pettitte said.

"These guys are used to playing at this time of the year, and they seem to relish the moments," Girardi said. "They seem to enjoy the moments together and what they have been through, coming up together, in a sense. And they know how to play this time of year."

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.